Game top



Nov. 6, 1951 J, w, LIOVEDAY 2,573,916

' GAME TOP Filed March 6, 1947 Ila-E Juuus WELLER LOVEDAV Patented Nov.6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE GAME TOP Julius Weller LovedayDetroit, Mich. Application March 6, 1947, Serial No. 732,740

This invention relates to an improved to structure adapted to be used asa game.

An object is to provide a game top consisting of at least two separableelements, each of which bears game indicia and which elements togethermake up the top and function together while the top is spinning, butwhich elements automatically separate when the top falls over uponcompletion of spinning. When so separated each element exposes upwardlyan indicia-bearing face.

Another object is to provide a game top of the character described whichcomprises a hollow shell element which exhibits a plurality of flatsides each bearing game indicia and at one end a point upon which thetop is adapted to spin, and at the opposite end a handle elementreceiving recess. The handle element which is separate from the shellelement exhibits a body portion provided with a similar correspondingplurality of flat sides and oppositely directed end handle portions.This handle element is receivable as to either end portion and the bodyportion within the hollow interior of the shell element to engage thesame to rotate therewith.

' A preferred embodiment of the within described game top is one whereinthe shell element and the handle element constitute a pair of dice andupon the completion of the spinning of the top the two elements separateand fly apart as the top falls over and exhibit two dice faces, one oneach element.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following description, appended claims andaccompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 exhibits a side elevation of the complete top assembly and alsoof the handle element of the top,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the top assembly shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the top assembly shown in Figure 1, V

Figure 4 is a view showing the handle element separated from the shellelement and with the shell element in vertical cross section toillustrate the interior thereof, and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the top structure shown in Figure 1illustrating two of the flat side faces thereof.

In the drawing there is illustrated a game top which is made up of twoelements. One element is a hollow shell element indicated as [0 and theother element is a handle element indicated generally as I 2. The hollowshell element is provided with a plurality of flat similar sides l6, six

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-147) sides being here shown. These six sides may beargameindicia such as appears on a dice member. Each flat side is adaptedto support the shell element with another flat side exposed upwardly asshown in Figure 3. The shell element is provided at one end with a point'i 8 upon which the top is adapted to spin. At the opposite end theshell is hollowed out interiorly as shown particularly in Figure 4 andas hereinafter described. The ends of the shell element are so formedthat the element is not adapted for support thereon.

The handle element which is shown in side elevation in Figures 1 and 4and is indicated by the numeral [2 includes a body portion 20 providedwith similar oppositely directed stemshaped handle portions22. The bodyportion 20 has a flat sided configuration which corresponds with that ofthe shell element so that it is adapted to lie fiat on either one of itssix sides and expose another side upwardly. The end portions 22 areoppositely disposed and similarly formed as shown. The six sides of thebody portion 20 are here illustrated as bearing game indiciacorresponding to those appearing on the six sides of the shell elementIt. The ends of the handle portions are so formed that the handleelement is not adapted to be supported thereon.

The top face or upper end of the shell element may be arcuate inappearance as shown in the figures of the drawing and is indicated bythe numeral 24. The bottom face or lower end of the shell element mayexhibit the configuration of a six-sided pyramid having faces 26 asshown. The shell element, when it falls over upon the completion of thespinning operation, will fall upon one of the flat faces l6 and will notrest upon either end face. The handle element, when it falls over uponthe completion of spinning of the top, will rest upon one of the sixflat faces of the body 29 and will not rest upon either end.

It is apparent, therefore, that upon assembly of the two elements thetop may be spun as a unit and upon completion of its spinning as itfalls over, that due to centrifugal force the handle element will bethrown clear of the shell element and the two elements will lie flatupon the surface of the table or the like, each exhibiting upwardly afiat game indicia-bearing face.

What I claim is:

1. A game top comprising, in combination, a member terminating in apointed end upon which the member can spin on a fiat surface andprovided with a plurality of similar exterior flat side faces circularlyspaced around the axis of the member, each of said side faces beingdistinctively marked and adapted to support the member at rest on a flatsurface and expose the opposite side face in uppermost position, saidmember having a cavity opening out through the end thereof opposite tosaid pointed end and shaped with a plurality of similar interior flatside faces extending to the edge of the opening of the cavity, a handleelement for spinning the top provided with a body portion having aplurality of similar exterior flat side faces circularly spaced aroundthe axis of the handle element and corresponding in number to saidinterior side faces; of the member and further having a stem portionprojecting from one end of the body, each of said side faces of thehandle element being distinctively marked and adapted to support thehandle element at rest on a flat surface and ex; pose the opposite sideface in uppermost position, said body portion of the handle elementbeing dimensionally shaped to endwise slidably fit within the cavity ofthe member and bein snugly received therein with its exterior flat sidefaces in juxtaposed complementary relation to the interior flat sideface of the member and with the stern portion projecting outwardly fromthe member to provide a finger grip, said complementary opposed sideflat faces releasably interlocking the handle element to the member forjoint spinning motion as one piece on said pointed end of the member butenabling the handle element to readily separate from the member when thelatter stops spinning and falls. on its side.

2. A game top comprising, in combination, an outer member terminating ina. pointed end upon which the member can spin on a fiat surface andprovided with six similar external flat side faces circularly spacedaround the axis of the member, each Of said side faces beingdistinctively marked and adaptedto support the member at rest on a fiatsurface with the opposite side face in uppermost position and exposed toView, said member being hollowed out interiorly to form a cavity closedadjacent to said pointed end and opening out through the opposite end ofthe 4 member, said cavity having a reduced substantial- 1y cylindricalportion adjacent to its closed end and a wider portion having sixsimilar internal flat side faces circularly spaced around the axis ofthe member and extending to the edge of the opening of the cavity, ahandle element for spinning the top having a relatively wideintermediate portion shaped to form six similar external flat side facescircularly spaced therearound, each of said side faces beingdistinctively marked and adapted to support the handle element at reston a flat surface with the opposite side face in uppermost .position andexposed to view, a similar reduced substantially cylindrical stemportion projecting from each end of the body portion of the handleelement, said handle element being dimensionally shaped to endwiseslidably fit Within'the cavity and being snugly received therein withone stem portion thereof disposed in the reduced portion of the cavityand the body portion thereof disposed in the wider portion of the cavitywith the external flat faces in juxtaposed complementary relation to theinternal flat faces of the cavity, the opposite stem portion of thehandle element projecting outwardly from the member to provide a fingergrip for spinning the top, said complementary juxtaposed side facesreleasably interlocking the handle element to the member for jointrotation as one piece when the top is spun but enabling the handleelement to slide out of the cavity of the member when the latter fallson its side upon completion of the spin.

JULIUVSQVWELLER; LOVE-DAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

